Report by Jim Collura, NEFI Vice President & Director of Government Affairs

At a press conference held yesterday, governors from the Northeast announced a new working group that will study how best to reopen the region’s economy as COVID-19 infections begin to subside. Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York hosted the press conference with other governors participating by phone, including Ned Lamont of Connecticut, John Carney of Delaware, Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, and Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island. The working group will include representatives chosen by each of the state governors. It will be responsible for studying and developing a framework for reopening Northeast state economies while minimizing the possibility of another outbreak. The development is of interest to NEFI members because it means the reopening of schools and businesses and the lifting of travel restrictions, stay-at-home orders, and regulatory waivers are more likely to be harmonized.